New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-25
RAILROADS AND LAND MONOPOLY


An important report finds circulation that
tho Commission is about to revoke all orders
suspendng the short haul clause of the Inter
state act. to take effect July 1. A Washing
ton correspondent states that the commits
sioners are no longer unanimous, as they were
al first, but differ much in regard to the pc
titions for relief from Canadian compeuuon
which Messrs Cooley and Walker favor while
ovher members do not regarding the treat
ment of Southern roads, which Commissioner
Bragg wants to favor while other members do
not. and in respect TO the transcontinental
service. II is certainly somewhat slgnihcant
that a new order Of suspension In favor OF
the Denver and Rio Grande was given on FIJI
day, but it is hardly safe to infer that the re-
port of speedy revocation OF such orders Is
therefore groundless. The late detailed letter
by the Commission, setting forth reasons Tor
refusing orders Of suspension in numerous
cases. puts the refusal on grounds perfectly
consistent with an early reversal OF all oruerS
snspending the operation OF tho act, and not
al all consistent with the continuance OF such
orders.
However much it may be regretted, the fact
NAV as we'll be faced that the Commission IS
likely TO lean strongly toward rigid enforce
ment of the act The language and still moro
the tone and temper Of its letters show this
apart from reports regarding the differences
Of members. When the Commission was hrst
selected The TRIBUNE observed that 1t was
so constituted that strict construction oil the
law might be expected, and though It's early
orders appeared to favor different opinion
all more recent utterances of the Commission
are in accordance with that first estimate.
Tho Interstate bill, thus Interpreted, means
monopoly in land. Proximity in distance to
certain markets or uses Is that which gives
land "unearned increment" and the railroads
have been engaged for a quarter OF century
in breaking up monopolies in land all over
the country. by rendering distance less po-
tent barrier. Tho railroads have thus been
practical anti -monopolists, and have done
u,vtu 10 pre,1slt aIL tlOrcad monopoly LA i"-'
than thousand agitators like Mr.. George
could do in a like time with all their theories.
Where he has talked, railroad builders IKE
Nessrs. Ames, Stanford, Huntington, Ooald.
Vanderbilt. Keep and Mitchell have worked
with mighty effect Perhaps they wanted
wealth perhaps Mr.. George wants popularity
tho motive does not matter Breaking down
land monopoly is vast work, which Mr'
George has been talking about and Which
these men have been doing.
| Now comes the Interstate act, expressly
| INTENDED to strike down that feature oil raii-
road management which makes war on lana
monopoly. 1t is one Of the most curious CON
tradictions of this illogical era that various
labor and political associations. which profess
to hate nothing else so much as monopoly OF
anv sort. declare this act altogether worthy
and insist upon its most strict CONSTRUCTION
and rigorous enforcement. In so dong they
ara fighting the battles Of land monopollsts
Their work has no other aim or effect than
to make monopoly in land more powerful
and more oppressive in every part OF the coun
ltry Indeed. ono might almost imagine that
with sagacity as pessimists, they arc dcprvmR
railroads of power to limit or defeat land mo-
nopoy in order to hasten the overthrow oil
property in land. But the effect is more likely
to be the reverse; a strong reaction against
the MANY forms of oppressive land monopoly
which tho fir, competition of railr Dads has 50
long prevented In this country
The Interstate act has come to stay, Com
missioner Morrison thinks. 1t is possible Una
the regulation of railroads for the purpose Of
preventing abuses may have come to stay
but it will not long remain principle Of
American law that railroads shall not be per
mitted to overcome the barriers OF dis
lance for the people so far as they are able
1t will not long remain principle OF law
that transporting company shall not be al
lowed to open new canals and rival rver>
wherever it can. Land monopoly is strong
but when the people come to comprehend
what il means, their interests will be stronger